Strike likely to cripple normal life in Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram: The 24-hour nationwide
strike called by central trade unions from midnight of Monday night is
likely to cripple normal life in Kerala with the state
government and banking unions also pledging support to it.

According to leaders of various unions, workers in all
sectors except those in essential services like health, water
supply and media, would join the strike, called jointly by the
central trade unions to protest the "anti-labour" policies of
the UPA Government.

"The strike is going to be a historic event. This is rare
since all major unions are joining hands for a nationwide
protest," union leaders said.

They held that labour upsurges in different parts of the
world in the backdrop of crisis of capitalist economies had
given an added thrust to the strike call.

The key demands of the unions include guarantee of labour
rights, end to the contract labour system, bringing workers in
the unorganized sector under the social security net and
pension benefit for all workers.

Besides the Left unions like CITU and AITUC and HMS, the
pro-Congress INTUC and pro-BJP BMS are also supporting the
strike.